This year, two participants from Hawaii and two from the Philippines attended the Head Minister Qualification Course One held at the Home of the Parent from August 27 to September 14. Two of them, Beverly Valdez-Yanobu (Philippines) and Marlo Yumi Yap (Hawaii), graduated from the English Class of the Spiritual Development Course offered at the Home of the Parent in 1998; Mindajao Anabel Mendoza (Philippines) graduated from the Japanese Class in the same year; Charlotte Tsuiko Hamada (Hawaii) graduated from the Spiritual Development Course as well as Head Minister Qualification Course in 1967.
The Head Minister Qualification Course One is designed to give students a thorough understanding of the teachings as well as an opportunity to implement them. The daily schedule begins with the morning service at the Main Sanctuary, followed by breakfast, morning assembly, and classes. The classes are conducted in the East Right Wing 4 of the Oyasato-yakata building-complex. This year, there was no English Class, but some of the lectures were taught in English in a separate room, while others were interpreted simultaneously.
In the morning, lectures were given on such subjects as The Doctrine of Tenrikyo; The Life of Oyasama, Foundress of Tenrikyo; and the Mikagura-uta, The Songs for the Service. In the afternoon, there were practice sessions for ritual procedures and for the hand movements and musical instruments for the service. The students also practiced delivering sermons, in which they focused on conveying the teaching of “a thing lent, a thing borrowed.” In addition, a couple of lectures were given by guest speakers, who provided their insights into the teachings besides sharing their own experiences in faith. The students also had chances to practice hinokishin (selfless and thankful action) by cleaning the Sanctuary Corridor and other places.